ON A COLD Friday night in February, about 120 people arrived at the Grace Lutheran Church in Champaign for an evening of delicious food and fine music. The reason? Students for a Better World hosted a Ragin' Cajun dinner from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 15 to benefit the Wilson Elementary School, which is located in one of the hardest-hit areas of New Orleans and has yet to fully recover from Katrina.

Spanish teacher Jenna Finch, S4BW's faculty sponsor, suggested the dinner after she heard a radio report about the school. S4BW took up the idea and worked on the project for several weeks before the big night. S4BW president Eunice How said the event raised about $800.

The meal included gumbo, salad, jambalaya, punch, and dessert. Approximately half the dishes were vegetarian for those observing Lent or who are vegetarian. All the food was prepared by S4BW, except for the gumbo and cake. The Illini Union made the cake, while math executive teacher Craig Russell and his daughter, sophomore Elizabeth Russell, made the gumbo.

Student musicians Ethan Berl, Grant Loos, Miguel "Teddy" Zamora-Mills, and Clement Dossin enlivened the evening with their jazz performances. Berl also entertained diners with card tricks, and English teacher Steve Rayburn presided over an auction of homemade food.